The Project on National Security Reform shares its legacy

The Project on National Security Reform ceased operations on December 31, 2011. This website records PNSR's history and work.

The transpartisan Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) was established in 2006 to assist the nation in an urgently needed transformation of the national security system. It was a single focus think tank dedicated to modernizing the currently antiquated national security system for 21st century challenges. PNSR envisioned a collaborative, agile, and innovative syste capable of integrating all elements of national power - both vertically and horizontally - and successfully addressing security challenges based on timely, informed decisions and decisive action.

To advance its agenda, PNSR developed a broad and diverse network of public and private partners and participants with expertise and experience in traditional and nontraditional security threats and opportunities. The first phase of PNSR’s work focused on identifying problems and formulating recommendations. Subsequently, it focused on developing tools for implementation and applying its holistic principles for long-term reform to many of today’s problems. This second phase provided a deeper understanding of the intellectual and political challenges of system transformation.

The project was led by James R. Locher III, a principal architect of the Goldwater-Nichols Act that modernized the joint military system. PNSR’s Guiding Coalition, comprised of distinguished Americans with extensive service in the public and private sectors, set strategic direction for the project. A dedicated staff that included national security veterans, as well as the brightest and best new talent, worked tirelessly on its critical mission. Although the political environment was not right to implement large-scale change, PNSR had a variety of incremental successes and significantly influenced the prevailing narrative on national security reform.

Partners

The leadership of the Project on National Security Reform thanks the following departments, agencies, associations, and firms for their assistance with the project. Although project leadership has attempted to include all contributing organizations on this list, they apologize if any have been inadvertently omitted.

Think Tanks and Other Associations: American National Standards Institute • The Atlantic Council • Brookings Institution • Business Executives for National Security • Carnegie Endowment for International Peace • The Cato Institute • Center for American Progress • Center for International Security and Cooperation • Center for a New American Security • Center for Research and Education on Strategy and Technology • Center for Strategic and International Studies • Center for the Study of the Presidency • Council on Foreign Relations • European Council on Foreign Relations • Heritage Foundation • The Homeland Security Institute • Hoover Institution • Hudson Institute • Institute for Defense Analysis • Institute for National Strategic Studies • National Academy of Public Administration • National Governors Association • Professional Services Council • RAND Corporation • Reserve Officers Association • U.S. Chamber of Commerce • Wilson Center.

Academia: American University • Catholic University • College of William & Mary • Columbia University • Duke University • George Mason University • Georgetown University • George Washington University • Grand Valley State University • Friends University • Harvard University • Institute of World Politics • James Madison University • Johns Hopkins University • Joint Special Operations University • Kings College, London • London School of Economics • National Defense University • Naval Postgraduate School • New York University • North Carolina Central University • University of Notre Dame • Pennsylvania State University • Stanford University • Swarthmore College • Texas A&M • Trinity College, Dublin • U.S. Air Force Academy • U.S. Army War College • U.S. Military Academy • U.S. Naval War College • University of California at Los Angeles • University of California at San Diego • University of Maryland • University of Southern California • University of Texas at Austin • University of Virginia • Walsh College • Wake Forest University • Wayne State University.